Farmers bring rail traffic to a grinding halt
Amritsar, September 5
Rail traffic came to a grinding halt following a bandh call given by 17 farmer and labour unions across the state today. Many trains were cancelled or delayed as union activists blocked various rail sections.

Members of various farmer and labour unions block rail traffic in
Amritsar on Wednesday. Tribune photograph

Truant teachers get another chance
Bathinda, September 5
Punjab Education, Higher Education and Language Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka today announced concession for those government teachers who had been found absent from work or had failed to improve results by offering them a chance to improve their attendance and overall results.

This rural school in Faridkot is like no other
Pakhi Kalan (Faridkot), September 5
The Government Senior Secondary School, Pakhi Kalan, in Faridkot district is a school with a difference. Shedding the image of a regular government school, this school has emerged as a model institute, where children get dry and seasonal fruits as part of their midday meal, manicured lawns greet the eyes and teachers pay from their own pockets to provide facilities to the students and maintain the school building. This Pakhi Kalan school has well-maintained lawns. A Tribune photograph

Capt: If invited, will join Sanjha Morcha protests
Sangrur, September 5
If invited, the Congress will join the district-level protests to be organised by the Sanjha Morcha on September 21 against the recent taxes in Punjab. Talking to the media at the residence of Dhuri Congress MLA Arvind Khanna here today, president of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Capt Amarinder Singh said the Congress had no hesitation in joining the protests against the “anti-people” polices of the SAD-BJP Government.Pradesh Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh and CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar
at a rally in Rampura Phul in Bathinda. A Tribune photograph

Chandigarh, September 5
The Congress-led UPA Government is clearly anti-Punjab. There is no other reason to explain why the state had been denied drought relief, despite being the biggest contributor of grain to the central pool, said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here today.

6-yr-old dies, 16 hospitalised
Patiala, September 5
A six-year-old boy died and 16 other children were hospitalised in Rampur Partan village in Shutrana assembly segment after suffering from diarrhoea here today.

NCW chief pulls up IGP
Jalandhar, September 5
Besides Shivali, five other women in the country were subjected to public humiliation by the police in various incidents across the country in recent months.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has been probing all such incidents, said Mamata Sharma, chairperson of the commission. The NCW chief and Shamina
Shafiq, member of the commission, were here today in connection with the Shivali suicide case.
NCW chief Mamata Sharma (right) with Shivali’s family members in Jalandhar. Photo: Sarabjit Singh

Notice to CM on Memorial
Chandigarh, September 5
A local court today issued dasti notices to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh
Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and the Punjab Chief Secretary on a petition seeking directions to stop preparations for a blueprint for Bluestar Memorial in
Amritsar.

Paraudi welcomes Manto’s daughters
Paraudi (Samrala),
September 5
It was a dream come true for famous writer Saadat Hasan Manto’s daughters when they arrived at his birthplace — Paraudi village — from Pakistan today.
Village sarpanch Sarabjit Kaur along with the womenfolk of the village greeted them with flowers and garlands.
They along with four scholars from Pakistan spent some time at their ancestral house and later participated in a function organised by the Lekhak
Manch, Samrala, under its president Daljit Shahi.

Writer Saadat Hasan Manto’s daughters are welcomed to their ancestral Paraudi village near
Samrala. A Tribune photograph

Rationalisation policy aimed at downsizing: Teachers
Chandigarh, September 5
The state is downsizing staff in the name of rationalisation which will have far reaching impact on studies in government schools, alleged Balkar
Valtoha, state president of the Government Schoolteachers Union, when contacted for a comment on the serving conditions in government schools.

Medical teachers demand timely promotions
Patiala, September 5
Medical and dental teachers in the state-run colleges have threatened to protest against the government if it does not accept their pending demand of effecting time-bound promotions within a month.

Filthy bus stand makes commuting a nightmare
Patiala, September 5
Filth strewn around, temporary encroachments on its compound, puddles everywhere, Patiala bus stand these days does not paint a pretty picture. The proposal to shift the bus stand to the outskirts of the city has been hanging fire for the past many years now.

Patiala Bus Stand flooded with rainwater. A Tribune photo

Bikaner-Pathankot train service to start from today
Sangrur, September 5
‘Holiday Express’, a new train service between Bikaner and Pathankot will start on September 6.
The train will start its journey at 9 pm from Bikaner and reach Pathankot at 12 pm the on September 7.

Jackpot

Commandant, IRB, Mandeep Sidhu showing the 2.4 kg of gold recovered from one Rampal, a resident of Meerut, in Patiala on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

2 eateries fined for using poor quality milk
Ropar, September 5
The Ropar Additional Deputy Commissioner has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, each on two eating joints in the district for allegedly using substandard milk.

GMADA to plant 2500 trees on Kurali-Siswan route
Chandigarh, September 5
Just more than six months after a petition was filed in public interest alleging large-scale felling of tree for the widening of the road from Chandigarh to the “T” junction on the Kurali-Siswan stretch, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority
(GMADA) has undertaken to plant more than 2500 trees on the road berms.

Garbage collectors call off strike after 3 days
Bathinda, September 5
The garbage collectors enrolled with the private company, JITF Waste Management Limited, today called off their strike after three days following intervention by the officials of the municipal corporation.

HC hands over custody of children to Canadian couple
Chandigarh, September 5
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has handed over the custody of the two children to both the parents, and allowed them to move back to Canada. The orders by Justice Paramjeet Singh came just about a month after the High Court had asked the estranged Canadian couple to stay together for a week, along with their two minor children, at a hotel in Chandigarh.

Insurance firm told to refund
Rs 25 lakh to NRI
Chandigarh, September 5
Punjab State Commission has directed an insurance company Bharti AXA Life to reimburse a non-resident Indian, hailing from
Mohali, Rs 25 lakh.
A part of the amount, the company had “fraudulently” taken from the complainant for a policy he had not bought.

Boy killed by mother’s lover
Sangrur, September 5
The Malerkotla police dug up the skeleton of a four-year-old boy from a burial ground in Haridwar today in the presence of a duty magistrate.
The boy was allegedly murdered by his mother’s lover Sandeep Kumar in the presence of a third person identified as Parminder Singh.

Woman PO held for fraud
Moga, September 5
The local police has arrested a woman travel agent, who has acted in Punjabi
tele-films, on charges of duping a Ferozepur resident.

Man shot dead in Bathinda market
Bathinda, September 5
A man was killed and another got seriously injured after gunshots were exchanged in the busy Mehna Chowk market today.
The police said a dispute over property between two brothers-in-law turned ugly when Simarjit Singh Maur was shot by Gurinder Singh
Bindu, an accomplice of victim’s brother-in-law Rana Bhupinder Singh Chahal, at a gun house.

Amritsar, September 5
Rail traffic came to a grinding halt following a bandh call given by 17 farmer and labour unions across the state today. Many trains were cancelled or delayed as union activists blocked various rail sections.

Activists raise slogans against the government at Rajpura on Wednesday. Tribune
photograph

The activists blocked rail traffic at the Amritsar railway station, causing and inconvenience to a large number of passengers. At least six arriving and departing trains were delayed while four local trains were cancelled due to the blockade.

The rail authorities halted the New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi for hours at the Manawala railway station, around 10 km outside Amritsar, in view of the blockade while the Delhi-Amritsar Shan-E-Punjab remained halted at the Jalandhar railway station, awaiting the lifting of the dharna that lasted around three hours.

The Shatabdi arrived at 4 pm, while the Shan-E-Punjab reached the city around 4.30 pm.

The departure of the Jallianwalla Bagh Amritsar-Tata Express was delayed by over three hours as it departed at 3.30 pm against its scheduled time of 12.30 pm. The Saharsa Express, which was to depart at 1.15 pm, left at 3.05 pm. The Amritsar-New Delhi Shan-E-Punjab left around 5.30 pm against its schedule time of 3.10 pm.

Among the local trains, DMUs between Amritsar-Pathankot, Amritsar-Qadian and Amritsar-Khemkaran were cancelled. Similarly, the DMU Hoshiarpur, which was scheduled to arrive at 12.30 pm, had not arrived till the filing of this report.

The farmer unions were staging the protest in support of their demands, including drought relief in view of a weak monsoon this year.

The farmer leaders lashed out at the government, alleging that instead of extending drought relief to the farmers, the Central and state regimes had burdened them with fresh taxes.

They demanded a drought relief of Rs 10,000 per acre for each of the affected farmers, besides Rs 10,000 each to the family of farm labourers. They also sought immediate rollback of fresh taxes imposed by the state government. They further demanded ownership rights of land being cultivated by the farmers for decades in the border villages of
Ajnala.

Fazilka: Farmer blocked rail traffic at Malout chowk level crossing for three hours in the afternoon. Official sources said the Jalandhar-bound train (No. 74974) and the recently started Ferozepur-Sriganganagar train (No. 14602) got stranded at the Fazilka railway station. Besides, the Fazilka-bound train from Ferozepur had to be sent back from the Ladhuka railway station while the Fazilka-bound Katdapur train had to be terminated at the Lakhewali railway station. A heavy police force was deployed at the dharna site to check any untoward incidence.

Ferozepur: As many as six trains were cancelled and 12 others were affected due to the “rail roko” protest by farmers in various parts of the division. Six trains on the Amritsar-Pathankot, Batala-Qadian and Amritsar-Khemkaran sections were cancelled. Sources said the Ferozepur-Ludhiana passenger train was stranded at Dagru, Ferozepur-New Delhi passenger at Faridkot, Ahmedabad-Jammu Tawi at Makhu, Malwa Express (Jammu-Nanded) at Ludhiana, Flying Mail at Jalandhar and the New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabadi was stranded at Jalandhar for two to four hours.

Faridkot: Farmers, labours and members of ex-servicemen unions staged a protest dharna on railway tracks in Kotkapura town here. The protesters blocked the rail traffic for over three hours. Three passenger trains were stranded at the Golewala, Faridkot and Kotkapura railway stations on the Bathinda-Ferozepur section. “The protest remained peaceful. The tracks were cleared at 3.30 pm,” said Gursher Singh Brar, SHO City,
Kotkpaura.

Sangrur: A large number of farmers and labourers blocked rail traffic from 12.30 pm to 3 pm at the Chhajli railway station, near Sunam. The protest remained peaceful. State president of the BKU (Ugrahan) Joginder Singh Ugrahan and other farmer leaders addressed the protesters.

The teachers who were honoured by Education Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka at a state-level award ceremony
in Bathinda on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, September 5
Punjab Education, Higher Education and Language Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka today announced concession for those government teachers who had been found absent from work or had failed to improve results by offering them a chance to improve their attendance and overall results.

Around 200 teachers were found absent from work and the pass percentage of their students also found to be poor during a surprise checking across the state recently.

Maluka was addressing teachers and students drawn from various schools of the district at a state-level function on Teacher’s Day today.

Maluka congratulated the teachers of the state on the birth anniversary of former President Dr Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan.

The minister also awarded 36 teachers, including principals, elementary teachers and lecturers, from different schools of the state.

Five teachers each from Ludhiana and Ropar; three each from Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur and Patiala; two each from Barnala and Gurdaspur; and one each from the rest of the districts were
honoured.

While 45 teachers were selected for the awards, nine of them could not make it for the function. The teachers were informed about their selection last evening.

Maluka asked teachers to improve their results and abstain from indulging in unfair activities.

The minister also announced the lifting of an earlier ban on teachers, preventing them from contributing to newspapers and magazines, but with a rider.

“Only those teachers who highlight positive things are welcome to write in newspapers, but not at the cost of their work,” he said.

The minister pointed out that the teachers were selected for the awards purely on merit.

He said the syllabus in government schools would be tailored to suit the needs of the students in this competitive age. He said a committee would be formed under Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh to improve the syllabi.

Maluka also announced Rs 50,000 for the schoolchildren who took part in a cultural programme during the function.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary Inderbir was the chief guest. School Education Secretary Husan Lal and Mayor Baljeet Singh Beerbehman were among those present.

Pakhi Kalan (Faridkot), September 5
The Government Senior Secondary School, Pakhi Kalan, in Faridkot district is a school with a difference. Shedding the image of a regular government school, this school has emerged as a model institute, where children get dry and seasonal fruits as part of their midday meal, manicured lawns greet the eyes and teachers pay from their own pockets to provide facilities to the students and maintain the school building.

The number of students has also been growing steadily. The lawns, which are maintained by the staff, can give any garden in the urban area a run for its money.

Three of the eight lawns have been developed into demonstrative education parks - English park, Maths park and social studies park.

“The duty of a teacher in these trying times is not just to teach their subjects but also to inculcate a sense of responsibility towards our institution in children,” says principal Nek Singh. “Teachers led by Gopal Krishan changed the school from its dusty premises to one of the most beautiful in the state by contributing from their own pocket,” he said.

“The school is a temple for us. It is so easy to indulge in idle discussion of criticising the government or blaming the system. We thought of doing our bit,” says Gopal
Krishan.

A state awardee, Krishan has contributed over Rs 2 lakh from his pocket and has been instrumental in maintaining the lawns as well as the building.

The teachers have even contributed money to install a reverse osmosis plant (RO). “We believe that education can be imparted only in a good atmosphere. The water supply of the school reported 2,100 TDS (total dissolved solids), which was quite harmful for the students. We could not wait for funds. The teachers collected money from among themselves and some social workers also chipped in to set up the plant.”

Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka is no less impressed with the initiative of the teachers. “I have never seen such a school in my life. And the results of the school are also good,” he said.

The school, however, has to do better in the subject of English. “Traditionally, English has remained the Achilles’ heel of rural students. Most students face difficulty in clearing the examination as their base in the subject is weak. We are trying to improve the standard of English taught in the school,” say the principal.

Model school

*
Teachers raise money from their pocket to maintain infrastructure
* Students get dry and
seasonal fruits as part of midday meal

Sangrur, September 5
If invited, the Congress will join the district-level protests to be organised by the Sanjha Morcha on September 21 against the recent taxes in Punjab. Talking to the media at the residence of Dhuri Congress MLA Arvind Khanna here today, president of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Capt Amarinder Singh said the Congress had no hesitation in joining the protests against the “anti-people” polices of the SAD-BJP Government.

Amarinder said the Sanjha Morcha had not rejected his offer to participate in Congress dharnas on September 7. Morcha leaders had merely stated that at such a short notice, they could not prepare the cadres for participation in the Congress dharnas.“It is not the end, rather it’s a beginning. As and when the Morcha prepares its cadres, it will join the Congress protests,” he said.

The PCC president accused the SAD-BJP Government of imposing needless taxes. Property tax had been imposed even on vacant plots as small as 50 yards. He said the Badal government had hiked VAT on all commodities because of which the cost of living had gone up.

Capt Amarinder warned that the SAD-BJP Government did not give up its “anti-people” polices, the PPCC could give a call for Punjab bandh.

Claiming that the Congress would win all 13 Lok Sabha seats, he denied differences with any Congress MLA. He said all Congress MLAs were united and were with him.

SP Sharma
Tribune News Service

Rampura Phul, September 5
Capt Amarinder Singh today alleged that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had circumvented the democratic process to impose a heavy dose of taxes on the common people.

He was addressing a largely attended public meeting here. He said if governments did not perform, they could be thrown out much before the expiry of their five-year term. He said the people in Punjab would get a chance to vote against the Akalis during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

He said taxes had been imposed on the people without these being approved by the Vidhan Sabha. Badal should convene an emergency meeting of the Vidhan Sabha to discuss the issue, failing which the Congress would step up its agitation and call for a Punjab bandh, Amarinder warned.

He said even as the people were smarting under fresh taxes, the government had chosen to purchase a helicopter for the Chief Minister and his kin.

Accompanied by senior party leaders, including CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar, Amarinder spoke of the “atrocities” being committed by Akali leaders, particularly in Rampura Phul, Tarn Taran and Majithia.

He said the Badal government had not honoured a single promise made by the SAD before the assembly elections.

“Where is the ‘atta-dal’ for the poor, the promised laptops for students and dole for the jobless,” he asked.

While the CM was crying that the state government was facing serious financial problems, his ministers were frequently going on foreign jaunts.

He said if Badal and his son were really worried about the common people, they should slash the VAT on petrol and diesel.

Amarinder said as of now there was no proposal to support PPP chief Manpreet Singh Badal for the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. He, however, did not rule out fielding Manpreet as the joint Opposition candidate from Bathinda, if such an understanding was reached

Chandigarh, September 5
The Congress-led UPA Government is clearly anti-Punjab. There is no other reason to explain why the state had been denied drought relief, despite being the biggest contributor of grain to the central pool, said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal here today.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal welcomes Gurpreet Singh of the People’s Party of Punjab into
the SAD fold in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

He alleged that money had been doled out to states who were Congress’
favourites.

Welcoming into the SAD fold Gurpreet Singh GP, who was People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) candidate from Chamkaur Sahib during the assembly elections, he ridiculed PCC president Capt Amarinder Singh’s claim that the Akalis would not win a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections.

“We are happy with his remark because what actually happens in the elections is opposite of what he says.”

On PPP chief Manpreet Badal’s comment that the state government was levying “unnecessary” taxes on the people, Sukhbir said:‘Just go by record to confirm what he had said when he was part of our government. At that time, he would say the state should do away with subsidies altogether.”

Patiala, September 5
A six-year-old boy died and 16 other children were hospitalised in Rampur Partan village in Shutrana assembly segment after suffering from diarrhoea here today.

The sick were taken to Civil Hospital, Samana and are between the ages of 9 months to 16 years. The deceased, Karan Singh suddenly fell ill yesterday evening to a medical practitioner nearby. “He slept after taking the medicine and died in his sleep,” said a relative of Karan
Singh.

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Usha Bansal said she along with her team left for the village as soon as the news reached her. “Residents of the area fell ill after consuming polluted water. They were living in unhygienic conditions in a slum area on the panchayat land. The area did not have a water connection. Residents were using submersible pumps to draw water from the ground,” she informed.

Dr Bansal said the team sent the children to the Civil Hospital, Samana as soon as they diagnosed the children. “The condition of all patients is stable and they are being kept under observation,” she added.

She said the department had collected two stool samples and five water samples for testing. We have also distributed chlorine tablets in the area and have directed them to drink water after every hour to prevent the disease from spreading.

Slum residents have claimed that the outbreak of the disease had been due to waterlogging in the area. The drainage system didn’t function properly so the threat of such diseases always loomed large. Even the panchayat was not doing anything to provide proper sanitation to us, said the residents.

Earlier diarrhoea had taken four lives in Badungar Colony in Patiala in the month of July. More than 400 patients were also affected with the outbreak of this disease in the district.

Breakdown

*
Residents of the area fell ill after consuming polluted water.
* They used submersible pumps to draw water from the ground
* Panchayat was not doing anything to provide proper sanitation
* 400 patients in the district have already been affected with outbreak of this disease

Moga, September 5
Pal Kaur, 18, died under mysterious circumstances at Lande village in Moga district yesterday. Her body was hastily cremated by her family members.

The principal of the school where she was studying had found a mobile phone in her bag and informed her parents about it. The phone was reportedly gifted to her by her boyfriend.

The school principal said that during routine checking last Thursday, five students were found carrying mobile phones. “I called up their parents to inform them about the matter as mobile phones are banned in government schools,” he said. On being grilled, Pal Kaur reportedly confessed to her parents that the phone had been gifted to her by school dropout Jodha Singh, also of Lande village. Her parents then reportedly quizzed the boy.

Pal Kaur was found dead in her bedroom under mysterious circumstances yesterday. On hearing of the girl’s death, Jodha allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. His body was cremated on Wednesday. Samalsar police station in charge Darshan Singh said no post-mortem could be conducted as the girl’s family had cremated the body without informing the police.

Village sarpanch Gurmukh Singh said he was not informed about the incident. The police has begun inquest proceedings.

Cell Trouble

*
Cell phone found in girl’s schoolbag; principal informs her parents
* Girl tells parents that the phone was a gift from a boy, a school dropout
* Girl found dead in her bedroom, cremated in a hurry on Tuesday
* Boy also commits suicide by consuming poison, cremated on Wednesday

Jalandhar, September 5
Besides Shivali, five other women in the country were subjected to public humiliation by the police in various incidents across the country in recent months.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has been probing all such incidents, said Mamata Sharma, chairperson of the commission. The NCW chief and Shamina Shafiq, member of the commission, were here today in connection with the Shivali suicide case.

A student of the local SD College, Shivali allegedly committed suicide by jumping before a train after she was humiliated by police personnel and some photojournalists.

Talking to mediapersons, Sharma pulled up the Inspector-General of Police (Jalandhar-Zone) for showing little compassion to Shivali’s grief-stricken family members, calling them thrice to her office to get their statements recorded.

The NCW chief visited the site where Shivali’s body was found. She met Shivali’s parents at their house.

Chandigarh, September 5
A local court today issued dasti notices to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and the Punjab Chief Secretary on a petition seeking directions to stop preparations for a blueprint for Bluestar Memorial in
Amritsar.

The court of the Civil Judge issued notices for October 15.

“The establishment of any sort of memorial in the memory of Operation Bluestar is not in the interest of the people of Punjab. Rather, it will hit peace and tranquility and will work as sprinkling salt on the wounds of the people of Punjab who have suffered a lot during militancy,” reads the petition.

The petition also raises questions on the purpose of raising such a memorial. “How will the State of Punjab be the beneficiary from this memorial and what does the Punjab Chief Minister want to justify through this memorial?”, the petition says. — TNS

Paraudi (Samrala),
September 5
It was a dream come true for famous writer Saadat Hasan Manto’s daughters when they arrived at his birthplace — Paraudi village — from Pakistan today.
Village sarpanch Sarabjit Kaur along with the womenfolk of the village greeted them with flowers and garlands.

They along with four scholars from Pakistan spent some time at their ancestral house and later participated in a function organised by the Lekhak Manch, Samrala, under its president Daljit
Shahi.

Manto’s three daughters — Nigahat Patel, Nusrat Jalal and Nujahat Arshad — laid a foundation stone of a memorial gate at the entrance to the village.

The visitors were escorted to the village in an open Gypsy and their procession was welcomed at several points along the way.

Tahira Iqbal, a member of the delegation, said she was deeply touched by the reception extended to them. She stressed the need for improving the ties between both nations.

Nujahat Arshad said writers could play a major role in bringing the two countries closer.

The other delegation members included Arshad Farook, Mirza Hamid Beg and Dr Ravia
Sarfraz.

Chandigarh, September 5
The state is downsizing staff in the name of rationalisation which will have far reaching impact on studies in government schools, alleged Balkar Valtoha, state president of the Government Schoolteachers Union, when contacted for a comment on the serving conditions in government schools.

The Sanjha Front Union of schoolteachers today held protests in all districts of the state against the rationalisation policy.

He said: “The state is facing a shortfall of more than 20,000 teachers. The teacher-student ratio for Classes IV and above has been increased from 1:30 to 1:45. For senior classes, it has been increased from 1:40 to 1:55. Classes for a teacher have been increased to 32 per week against 27 earlier. Drawing, Hindi and related subject teachers are expected to teach more than 36 classes per week”.

Lakhbir Singh, vice-president of Jalandhar unit of the union, said: “As per the rationalisation policy, he will be made to travel to different schools in the neighbourhood which is not practical”.

Darshan Singh, a teacher from Hoshiarpur, said: “Instead of providing them better facilities, it is harassing the teachers in the name of posting them in a rational manner”.

Patiala, September 5
Medical and dental teachers in the state-run colleges have threatened to protest against the government if it does not accept their pending demand of effecting time-bound promotions within a month.

Representatives of Action Committee for Time Bound Promotions of Medical and Dental Teachers said even the Directorate of Medical Education and Research Punjab has failed to take up the issue with the government.

Dr Gurmeet Singh said Haryana government and the central government had already effected time bound promotions. Unfortunately Patiala and Amritsar Government Medical and Dental Colleges were the only institutions in the region where the faculty members were not being promoted under this scheme, he said.

“Manoranjan Kalia and Tikshan Sood during their tenure as Ministers of Medical Education and Research had assured us of implementing the policy. Even the current minister, Chuni Lal Bhagat has promised to help us but nothing has happened so far,” said Dr Sachin
Walia.

Dr Iqbal Singh stressed on the benefits of implementing this policy. “With time bound promotions, the number of senior faculty members would increase in government colleges,” he said.

The doctors also demanded that department heads should be rotated in all medical and dental colleges like in state universities. Furthermore, they demanded that government should stop promoting people under 25 per cent Direct Quota except at the entry level.

Patiala, September 5
Filth strewn around, temporary encroachments on its compound, puddles everywhere, Patiala bus stand these days does not paint a pretty picture. The proposal to shift the bus stand to the outskirts of the city has been hanging fire for the past many years now.

In the rainy season, large puddles make it extremely difficult for commuters to enter the bus stand.

“Even a brief spell of rain creates a nuisance; the entire bus stand is virtually submerged. So instead I have to catch the bus from Patiala bye pass on Sirhind Road which is few km away,” says bank employee Paramjeet Singh, who works in Ludhiana.

Surinder Singh, who works in Chandigarh laments, “The puddles of dirty water are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Filth strewn around the bus stand emanates a foul smell. Many temporary encroachments inside the bus stand have made the bus stand even more congested. We eagerly await for the day when it would be shifted to the outskirts of the city.”

Sangrur, September 5‘Holiday Express’, a new train service between Bikaner and Pathankot will start on September 6.
The train will start its journey at 9 pm from Bikaner and reach Pathankot at 12 pm the on September 7.

Vijay Inder Singla, MP from Sangrur, said the train would run once a week. From Bikaner, it would go via Napasar, Dungargarh, Ratangarh, Churu, Sadalpur, Hissar, Jakhal, Dhuri, Ludhiana, Phagwara, Jalandhar and Dasua to reach
Pathankot.

Singla said the train would pass through the heart of Malwa region and provide much needed relief to cancer patients, who travel to Rajasthan for treatment.

He said he had requested the General Manager of Northern Railways to put Sangrur, Malerkotla and Sunam also on the route of the express.

Dhuri had already been included in the list of the train’s stoppages, he added.

Ropar, September 5
The Ropar Additional Deputy Commissioner has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, each on two eating joints in the district for allegedly using substandard milk.

These eating joints are Kikar Lodge, a resort at Kangar village in Nurpur Bedi Area, and Sartaj Tourist Dhaba at Malakpur village.

Earlier, samples of cow milk were collected from Kikar Lodge on November 10 last year. Under the provisions of the Act, cow milk should have 4 per cent fat and 8.5 per cent solid not fats (SNF). The laboratory analysis revealed that the samples of milk from Kikar lodge had 3.6 per cent fat and 8.3 per cent
SNF.

Similarly the samples of mixed milk collected from Sartaj Tourist Dhaba had 1.5 per cent fat and 7.5 per cent SNF. Interestingly, the samples of milk from the canteen of the local mini secretariat had also failed the quality test last month. The case, however, is under process.

Chandigarh, September 5
Just more than six months after a petition was filed in public interest alleging large-scale felling of tree for the widening of the road from Chandigarh to the “T” junction on the Kurali-Siswan stretch, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has undertaken to plant more than 2500 trees on the road
berms.

The undertaking before the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain came during the hearing of a petition filed by Jeet Bhumbla, claiming that the felling of more than 1000 trees was avoidable.

In the petition against the Union of India, GMADA, Omaxe and other respondents, Bhumbla had also sought the issuance of directions for quashing sanction to cut 1827 trees and uproot 560 poles, along with 664 young plants, on either side of the road. He added that the widening was taking place from Mullanpur/UT boundary and the felling of as many as 1100 trees on one side was avoidable.

During the hearing of the petition, an affidavit was filed by GMADA’s Divisional Engineer (Horticulture) Harbans Singh Dhaliwal, undertaking that the trees would be planted as directed by the Court and also in compliance with the National Forest Policy.

In the affidavit, he added that the tentative cost of plantation would be Rs 43.50 lakh. The amount would include the cost of tree guards.

The affidavit added: “The plantation work will be completed within three months after the completion of the civil work, which is likely to be completed on April 30, 2013”.

A similar undertaking was also given by the State authorities. In another affidavit, Divisional Forest Officer, Ajitgarh Forest Division, Vishal Chauhan, submitted that the compensatory afforestation of 41,208 plants - in lieu of 3184 trees, poles, and plants to be felled - would be carried out.

Taking a note of the assertions, the Bench disposed of the petition by asserting: “In view of the undertakings given by the GMADA and the State authorities, we feel that no further order needs to be passed in this writ petition, save and except to issue directions to the respondents to plant the trees as per the undertakings given”.

The Bench added: “It shall be the responsibility of the officers concerned, who have filed the affidavits to ensure that the trees are being looked after properly and not destroyed because of paucity of water etc”.

Bathinda, September 5
The garbage collectors enrolled with the private company, JITF Waste Management Limited, today called off their strike after three days following intervention by the officials of the municipal corporation.

Garbage collection in the city had come to a standstill owing to a tussle between the collectors and the management of
JITF.

For many months, similar problems have been arising at the beginning of every month when the garbage collectors are to be given their salaries. Verbal altercation between the collectors and the management was becoming a regular feature.

Irked over poor garbage collection, the officials of the municipal corporation had taken the JITF officials to task. — TNS

HC hands over custody of children to Canadian couple
Couple to send report on children’s health every 3 monthsSaurabh Malik
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 5
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has handed over the custody of the two children to both the parents, and allowed them to move back to Canada. The orders by Justice Paramjeet Singh came just about a month after the High Court had asked the estranged Canadian couple to stay together for a week, along with their two minor children, at a hotel in Chandigarh.

Karan Singh Bajwa, a 41-year-old Canadian citizen, had moved a habeas corpus petition through counsel Anil Malhotra seeking custody of his son and daughter, both Canadian citizens, from "illegal detention" by his wife and father-in-law at their residence in Patiala.

Both the children were produced before the Court on a previous date of hearing, along with their passports, by a warrant officer of the High Court. After holding a lengthy mediation session in his chamber, Justice Paramjeet Singh asked the couple to stay together for a week so their differences could be sorted out and an amicable solution could be found to save their family.

Disposing of the petition, Justice Paramjeet Singh ruled that custody of children shall vest in Karan Singh Bajwa and wife Jasmine Bajwa jointly. Two passports and a Permanent Resident Card on the record of the Court would be released by the Registrar (Judicial) to Jasmine Bajwa.

These were taken into custody by the Warrant Officer; and would be released subject to execution of a bond that the two shall produce the children in the Court whenever ordered. The couple would send report to the Court after every three months giving sufficient details about the well being of the children till further orders.

The couple would also submit report every three months to the Court as to how their matrimonial life was going on, again till further orders. The couple would also inform the Registrar (Judicial) of this Court on any change of address. “Any change in residential address shall be immediately notified to the Registrar (Judicial) of this Court,” Justice Paramjeet Singh asserted.

The couple would also bring children to India from time to time to meet their extended families - grandmother and maternal grandfather Jasbir Singh Sandhu. “If any dispute regarding the custody of children arises or children are not brought to India, the whole issue involved in this petition may be reviewed suo motu by this Court” or at the instance of father, mother or Jasbir Singh Sandhu for “modification, alteration and cancellation of this order”.

“This Court is passing this order in the interest of children and the family,” Justice Paramjeet Singh concluded.

Chandigarh, September 5
Punjab State Commission has directed an insurance company Bharti AXA Life to reimburse a non-resident Indian, hailing from Mohali, Rs 25 lakh.
A part of the amount, the company had “fraudulently” taken from the complainant for a policy he had not bought.

In his complaint, Jagmohan Singh Rana had claimed that he had an insurance policy for Rs 5 lakh, issued by Bharti AXA Life Insurance.

When the premium of the policy was due, a representative of the company contacted his father to collect it, but he fraudulently took two cheques from his father and issued another insurance policy, which Rana hadn’t intended to buy, with a premium of Rs 20 lakh to be paid annually for 20 years.

The cheques were cleared without any intimation to Rana. Rana was not in India at the time and when he learnt about this, he approached the insurance firm for a refund, but the company refused.

The matter was settled today by representatives of both parties before the commission’s bench comprising Justice Arvind Kumar and S Chattopadhyaya.

The settlement includes surrender and liquidation of the earlier policy on completion of three years as well as a refund Rs 20 lakh for the second policy.

Sangrur, September 5
Nazar Singh, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at the Chhajali police station, near Sunam, was today arrested by the Vigilance Bureau for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.

Vigilance Bureau DSP Balwinder Singh Sidhu said the Vigilance team caught the ASI red-handed at the Chhajali police station while he was taking Rs 5,000 from Bhola Singh of Chathe Nanherra village.

The DSP said an FIR under Sections 323, 324 and 341 of the IPC was registered against Bhola Singh and his two sons Harbhajan Singh and Gurdip Singh on August 28. The ASI had the option to grant them bail at the police station. So he had asked the accused for a bribe, he said.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act had been registered against the ASI, who would be produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) tomorrow, Sidhu added.

Sangrur, September 5
The Malerkotla police dug up the skeleton of a four-year-old boy from a burial ground in Haridwar today in the presence of a duty magistrate.
The boy was allegedly murdered by his mother’s lover Sandeep Kumar in the presence of a third person identified as Parminder Singh.

All three have been arrested and have confessed to the crime, said Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) HS Bhullar. He said the skeleton would be sent for DNA tests. The SSP said Rani Kaur, who was married to Manjit Singh of Issru village, left him six years ago and returned to her parent’s house in Malerkotla. There, she developed ties with Sandeep Kumar. In June last year, the lovers went to Haridwar along with the boy and killed him there.

When Manjit asked Rani about their son, she was evasive. He lodged a complaint with the police that began a probe and caught the accused.

Moga, September 5
The local police has arrested a woman travel agent, who has acted in Punjabi tele-films, on charges of duping a Ferozepur resident.

A police officer said the accused, Ranju Sharda, was declared a proclaimed offender by a local court two years ago after she failed to turn up for court hearings. She had earlier been granted bail by the court. The accused had been putting up in Chandigarh and Kurukshetra after moving out of the town. She had come to the town to visit her mother on Monday when she was arrested by the police.

The police had received several complaints of fraud against the accused. Also, the Haryana police raided her husband’s house in Kurukshetra last night.

Bathinda, September 5
A man was killed and another got seriously injured after gunshots were exchanged in the busy Mehna Chowk market today.
The police said a dispute over property between two brothers-in-law turned ugly when Simarjit Singh Maur was shot by Gurinder Singh Bindu, an accomplice of victim’s brother-in-law Rana Bhupinder Singh Chahal, at a gun house.

A victim’s friend, Gurlal, retaliated by opening fire at Bindu, who was critically injured.

Bindu was admitted to a private hospital on the Barnala road. The police later deployed policemen to keep an eye on the injured.

Kotwali SHO Jaspal Singh said Rana Bhupinder Singh Chahal was a resident of the Ajit Road and ran a cable television business.

Panic gripped the area as shopkeepers and area residents heard gunshots. A shopkeeper said at least five rounds were fired.

A case under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of the IPC and the Arms Act has been registered against Rana Bhupinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh Ramni, Gurinder Singh Bindu and others at the Kotwali police station.